JAMIE Roberts believes Wales must be daring as well as cunning if they are to overcome Ireland in Saturday's crunch Six Nations encounter.

Wales' title hopes rest on ending the Irish Grand Slam charge at the Millennium Stadium with the scene set for a tense and tight tussle.

Neither side can afford to make mistakes in their own territory given that a penalty will generally result in three points given unerring right boots of Leigh Halfpenny and Johnny Sexton.

But Roberts believes that Wales must have their thinking hats on against Joe Schmidt's side but has stressed that they cannot be ruled by fear.

"It is who blinks first but it is also who dares wins as well," said the centre. "It is a bit of a game of chess in these big games.

"You see that in the opening exchanges trying to work each other out and no doubt it will be like that again on Saturday.

"We have to be ready to go out and play and take the game to them. They are very clever defensively. They pick and choose their rucks. We have got to be very clever in that respect.

"It is certainly a thinking man's game this weekend."

It is Ireland that have called checkmate in Wales in recent years – they have lost just twice in Cardiff since 1983.

Warren Gatland's side have enjoyed their share of memorable encounters with the Irish – most notably the win in Wellington in the last eight of the World Cup four years ago – but Roberts admits that past pains are a motivation.

"Looking back on a personal note there have been more lows than highs against them," said the Racing Metro man. "That is something I am quite keen to rectify.

"I remember the quarter-final of the World Cup and 2012 (win in Dublin, the first leg of a clean sweep) as very good memories but I'll never forget 2009 watching Ireland win the Grand Slam in our stadium.

"That is one of those moments in your career that motivates you I suppose. It's something you never want to happen again.

"And certainly the last two years, playing at home in 2013 we got blown off the field in the first half and last year wasn't pretty, it was a poor loss out there."